ampsandsound SE 84

joespride

1000+ Head-Fier
Pros: Musical, Balanced tone, Build quality, Customer Service
Cons: NONE
First i want to say you wont find better customer service, Justin actually cares about his product and his customers. He just wants to build quality products that keep his customers happy
 
The amp is built like a tank, when you open the considerable packing and finally do get to handle the amp it is immediately obvious how well built this amp is, Very solid.
Aesthetics are nice as well, No gold this and silver that to increase the price, Just very nice attention to detail and quality craftsmanship, with quality components for a handsome, solid small
foot print amp, that would look great on your desk or in your rack
 
I don't typically get into the review process, I don't know the terms used. I know what sounds good with over 25 years in the hobby, I just never got into all the hype, and lingo. I love music !!!!!!!
 
Sound: If your a fan of single ended amps (and I am)  then you will like what this amp has to offer, It gives you all the good attributes  without the syrupy warmness. The SE-84 still leans a bit warm as tubes should but its not over done. Detail retrieval is as good as it gets IMHO, I am loving my music collection all over again. The balance between lows mids and highs Is very good with no one thing sticking out
above the rest. I often see reviews where one singles out treble etc... as bright, or harsh and so on,  Upon listening to this amp my first thoughts were WOW this thing is musical, toes tapping, air guitar strumming, head bobbing.............Looking like a 50 year old fool, I don't care I was in the zone.
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With more time I began to notice the finer points. I Heard new details in old favorites, the cymbals just seemed to shimmer through decay (no sizzle), note would hang in the air longer, voices were more life like with wonderful bredth, Bass was deep and defined with decent impact.
 
This amp has found a permanent home in my headphone rig, and with a quality build I feel I could pass it down to my son. Hopefully a long time from now 
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A pic with the tubes a glowing, and look at that beautiful wood work
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Here is a link to Justin Webers ampsandsound  Se-84
 
http://ampsandsound.com/products/amps/se-84/
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ssrock64
ssrock64
Is ampsandsound an established brand? That amp looks beautiful and well-made; I'm surprised that I haven't heard about it before.
joespride
joespride
Ok the short answer is they are not a household name yet but i posed your question to the owner and i have copied and pasted his remarks.  By the way under 1 hour for a response hows that for customer service !!!!!!!!
 
"Re: the question... thanks for replying. Ive been building amps utilizing the exact same parts for about 2 years... The difference is the top plates and wood work. Be fore I had drilled every chassis which is much much more time consuming and less percise. Since July, I secured my name... before I was Smucksandmench audio... which was pretty funny, but most didnt get the joke and I sold locally. Good thing soo many live near Los Angelees :). Once I got some nudging and support ampsandsound came into being. Development of the site takes time and I have yet to build an ad and use google Adwords, but am very close. Right now Im averaging 2 amp sales a mo and building 3-4 a mo to prep for a demand and not to get cuaght off guard. 
 
Though I dont have a formal warranty policy, Ive only had to make 1 repair before... it was a rebuilt Dyanco ST35 which lost its cathode resistor... Considering he got 2 years out of it before it was pretty good. Since the repair, no issues. Im total open to repairing my amps if the need arises. If in 1st 6mo Id pay the shiping both ways. In general tubes dying is more expected  :).  "
joespride
joespride
Ampsandsound SE84 revisited. I had 1 of the original SE84 amps Justin Built. I allowed myself 
to be convinced to sell it in the supposed name of higher fidelity. What constitutes higher 
fidelity ?  Is it that you can get more detail ?  Higher resolution ? More air ? I am sure we have all
heard the terms used to describe a supposed better amp.  But is it really better ?  I know technically
it is probably better, but does it sound better ?

For me now there is 1 huge Elephant in the room, I am sick and tired of the endless persuit of Higher Fidelity
I am drawing my line in the sand. What good is all this Fidelity, what are the costs of the persuit
I am not talking about good old green backs, rather the constant upheival of our systems, and sanity.
When is good enough,  "good enough ?"
 
Re-Enter an improved ampsandsound SE84 (I bought what is likely the last SE84, it was Justins personal amp)
I no longer have a desire to eek out that last enth of detail, resolution, seperation, clarity, blah, Blah, BLAH.
I am firmly ensconced in the MUSICAL crowd from now on.  If your head is not rocking and your toes tapping I submit
you are not living, merely existing. I am happily torturing my wife and kids with my rendition of pretty much what ever
old favorite happens to be next on the playlist. Air drums "Please" I play with the best move over Keith Moon, John Bonham
you have nothing on me.

Though the SE84 is geared more towords 32 ohm cans I can say without hesitation my HD650 are hitting new and MUCH more 
powerful lows, Can you say head vibrations ?  (I can now). Just because I am once again in the Musical camp that 
does not make me deaf. so call me surprised when my humble little set up pulled out a detail never heard before. Ac/Dc
Back in Black, Band member counting cadence before getting into the music.  New one on me.  Bela Fleck & The Flecktones 
Cosmic Hippo has never had such presence, / authority I find myself wanting to listen to the whole album instead of 1/2 
of 1 song in an effort to hear the never before heard Fideity (pick your own terms)

To say I am very happy with this new amp would be an under statement. Another Home Run for ampsandsound
Thanks just does not quite cover the feelings

Fastlane Audio

New Head-Fier
Pros: Quality build, excellent sound.
I purchased this sweet little amp for a second system, but soon found out this is not a second system amp at all. Its low price, and small footprint makes it perfect for use at the office, computer speaker, or even take it with you with your favorite set of phones, when you are required to spend time at your in-laws place and don't want to be tortured with their table top clunker. 
 
Don't let is small size and price fool you, this amp has got the goods where it counts. Then SE-84's meager 3 watts is plenty to power all kinds of speakers to moderate listening levels, and super efficient models to levels that will get you lined out with your Queen.
 
Best of all, its made is the USA, and built by a Justin Webber who pays attention to every detail.
 
Dave
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